Sunita Williams, along with astronauts Barry Wilmore, Nick Hague, and Alexander Gorbunov, has embarked on her journey back to Earth aboard SpaceX. Originally, Wilmore and Williams were part of Boeing's Starliner test flight. Having spent over nine months aboard the International Space Station (ISS), their return journey began today at 10 AM IST, and they are expected to land in Florida, USA, by 3:30 AM tomorrow.

As we await their safe return, let’s take a look at some of the most tragic accidents in space mission history.

1. Columbia Shuttle Disaster (February 1, 2003, USA)

One of the most devastating incidents involved Indian-origin astronaut Kalpana Chawla. The Space Shuttle Columbia took off on January 16, 2003, but disaster struck during re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. A piece of foam detached from the shuttle and damaged the left wing, allowing atmospheric gases to penetrate the structure. The shuttle broke apart over Texas, killing all seven astronauts onboard, including Kalpana Chawla.

2. Apollo 1 Fire (January 27, 1967, USA)

During a ground training exercise, a fire broke out inside the command module due to an electrical fault. The tragedy claimed the lives of three American astronauts, marking NASA’s first fatal space mission accident.

3. Soyuz 11 Disaster (June 30, 1971, Russia)

The Soviet Soyuz 11 spacecraft successfully docked with Salyut 1, the world's first space station. However, during its return, a cabin depressurization incident occurred, causing all three cosmonauts to suffocate before landing.

4. Challenger Explosion (January 28, 1986, USA)

The Space Shuttle Challenger disintegrated just 73 seconds after launch, resulting in the deaths of seven astronauts. The cause was a failure in the O-ring seals, which led to the explosion of the shuttle's external fuel tank. The disaster had a significant impact on NASA’s space programs.

5. Shenhou 10 Incident (2013, China)

China’s Shenhou 10 mission encountered technical failures, leading to an emergency abort. Fortunately, all astronauts onboard survived, but the mission was deemed a failure.

These tragic incidents serve as a reminder of the dangers and risks of space exploration. As Sunita Williams and her fellow astronauts make their way back to Earth, we hope for their safe and successful landing.